RE: update error in W98

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

From: michaelis (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 02/13/04 

Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 20:21:07 -0800

ok, folks, here is one answer to check out.

one thing that causes this is a file called HOSTS or HOSTS.SAM. since the web IP address of WinUP has changed occasionally, if this file isn't updated properly it will cause the problem.

simply use FIND to find the file, and edit it. take out all references to Windows Update.

before you try all the other 'techy' things, try this. it worked for me. i've gone around and around with all the techie things and none of them worked for me. actually, i found two things that worked, neither of them very techie stuff. even the 'newbies' can do the things below.

i found a work around and a full solution.

the 'workaround' is to go to the Windows Update Site, but don't hit the Scan for Updates button. before you do that, change the URL in the address bar to show 'https//:' instead of 'http//:'. in other words, usually you will have ----

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

in the address bar. after you change it, it will look like ---

https://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

this will reload the webpage and take you to the secure update site. this always worked to get the updates for some reason. the Windows Updates worked just like they used to, but it is still a bit of a hassle to change it every time.

the 'FIX' is a little more involved, but isn't very techie. use the Find on your start menu, and look for a file called HOSTS or HOSTS.SAM. i found mine in the WINNT\System32 directory. yours may be a little different. anyway, when you find it, open the file up in Notepad or Wordpad, and look for any reference that involves Windows Update. I found 2 in my HOSTS file.

You will be looking at a long list of IP addresses, names of websites, and such. don't worry too much about that. the site names in the middle are listed alphabetically. just scroll down to find references in the website list for Windows Update or v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp or anything like that.

when you find them, just delete them. make sure there is no blank line between the line above and the line below the line you delete (a lot of times if you just highlight a line and delete, it will leave a blank line there).

that's all there is to it. save the file, and try the WinUpdate again. it should work immediately.

m

Quantcast